Immediately after graduating high school, John Allred moved to southern California and started his professional music career with the Jazz Minors, a six-piece Dixieland group at Disneyland in Anaheim. During this time, he became active in the Los Angeles music scene, and in 1987, accepted an invitation to join Woody Herman & The Young Thundering Herd, performing with artists such as Stan Getz, Rosemary Clooney, and Clark Terry.
Later, John relocated to Orlando, Florida, playing both jazz and studio gigs. In the movie My Girl, he coached actor Dan Aykroyd on how to mimic a tuba player, and recorded the tuba parts for the soundtrack. During this time he also took an active role in his father, Bill Allred's Jazz Band, played in numerous production shows, and played euphonium with Rich Matteson and Harvey Phillips in the Matteson-Phillips Tubajazz Consort.
In 1999, John Allred moved to New York City and has been performing with notable jazz groups including the Toshiko Akiyoshi Big Band, the Woody Herman Orchestra, and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band.
The Climb
John Allred Lyrics
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Just give me your attention and I'll give you my whole world
When you fall I will try my best to catch you
That's all, that's all
So tell me there's a reason for the way that things work out
And every grain of faith is just another laced with doubt
When you fall we can learn to lift each other
And oh how my walls fall down
Whenever you come around
Oh the climb's always harder than the fall
That's all, that's all
I get so tired of this place but I'm never tired of you
There's always another angle and another point of view
Say you'll stay even when I hit the wall
That's all, that's all
And oh how my walls fall down
Whenever you come around
Oh the climb's always harder than the fall
That's all, that's all
And it's you
You're the reason for my rhyme
It's you
You're my partner here in crime
It's you
Say you'll stay with me even when I fall behind
Say you'll never leave me and you'll always be my girl
Just give me your attention and I'll give you my whole world
And how my walls fall down
Whenever you come around
Oh the climb's always harder than the fall
And oh how my walls fall down
Whenever you come around
Oh the climb's always harder than the fall
That's all, that's all
Oh the climb's always harder than the fall
That's all, that's all
The lyrics of John Allred's song The Climb contain several themes, including love, support, and the pursuit of success. The singer talks about the importance of having someone by his side who will never leave him, and who he can count on for support. He emphasizes the fact that when things get tough, their love will help them get through it together. The opening line, "Say you'll never leave me and you'll always be my girl," expresses the singer's desire for his partner to stay with him forever, and for their relationship to remain strong.
The second verse touches on the uncertainty and doubt that we all face in life, from time to time. The singer reflects on the challenges that come with following our dreams, and how sometimes our faith can be tested. However, he believes that when we fall, we can always learn from each other and help each other up. This positive outlook on failure underscores the importance of having a supportive partner who is there to pick us up when we fall.
The chorus is particularly relatable, with its sentiment that the "climb is always harder than the fall". This simple line is a reminder that often the journey to success is more challenging than the setbacks we may face. The singer's walls "fall down whenever [his partner] comes around", further emphasizing the importance of having a supportive partner who can help us overcome obstacles. Finally, the song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer pledging his love and commitment to his partner, and asking them to stay with him through thick and thin.
Line by Line Meaning
Say you'll never leave me and you'll always be my girl
Promise me that you'll always be here for me and never leave my side
Just give me your attention and I'll give you my whole world
If you give me your focus and love, I'll do anything for you
When you fall I will try my best to catch you
If you stumble and fall, I'll be there to catch you and help you back up
That's all, that's all
That's all I need from you
So tell me there's a reason for the way that things work out
Explain to me why life happens the way it does
And every grain of faith is just another laced with doubt
Even the smallest amount of trust can be mixed with uncertainty
When you fall we can learn to lift each other
If one of us falls, we can help each other up and grow stronger together
And oh how my walls fall down
I let my guard down when you're around
Whenever you come around
Your presence makes me vulnerable but also brings me joy
Oh the climb's always harder than the fall
Going up is always more difficult than coming down
I get so tired of this place but I'm never tired of you
I may be tired of the world around me, but I'll never tire of being with you
There's always another angle and another point of view
There are always different perspectives to see things from
Say you'll stay even when I hit the wall
Promise me you'll stick around even when I'm struggling
And it's you
You're the one for me
You're the reason for my rhyme
You inspire me to create and express myself
You're my partner here in crime
You're my partner in everything, no matter what we do
Say you'll stay with me even when I fall behind
Promise me you'll support me even if I can't keep up
Oh the climb's always harder than the fall
Going up is always more difficult than coming down
That's all, that's all
That's all I need from you
Contributed by Mason J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Unkie Wayne
on Oh My God
This is NOT John Allred the tromone player. This is John Allred the singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Connecticut, presently living in the Salt Lake City area. www.allredmusic.com